Wringer release mechanism



Ja'n. l2, 1943. N.- l; ETTEN 2,308,443

' wnINeER RELEASE-MECHANISM Filed May 1 5,l 19:57 5 sheets-sheet 1 Jain. 12,' 1943, -N.-| Erri-:N

Y 'wRINGER RELEASE MECHANISM Filed May l5, 1937 Ihn) @miic-or: Nuzholas L. Eiken) @y Jff/ OME.

Patented Jan. 12, 1943 vivirla-nn STAT-Es elite-lar oFrIcE 2,308,443 wRmGEn RELEASE MECHANISM Nicholas L. Etten, Waterloo, Iowa Apii'ca'tioniuay 13, 1937, serial No; 142,409 2 claires.v (o1. rss-zes) This invention relates to safety mechanisms for domestic clothes wringers and more particularly, to quick 'release devices `for releasing the pressure exerted between the wringer rolls and permitting the rolls to separate. The invention is peculiarly applicable to wringers of theY type employing a releasable top frame and wherein the spring or springs for exerting pressure on the rolls is carried by or held down by such frame.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive mechanism whereby an operator of the wringer, in the case of an emergency, may immediately eiect the releaseof the spring or springs which normally maintain the rolls in close engagement and under relatively high pressure.

Another important object is to provide a quick release mechanism of such'character that the top frame and the pressure imposing spring will be restrained against undesirable movements'beyond that necessary to eiect the release of pressure upon the rolls. I

Still another important object is'to provideV an arrangement whereby certain of the mechanism employedv to effect the release' of pressure may be used to effectthe resetting of the top frame and the resecuring' ofY the spring in pressure exerting relationship with respect to the rolls.

A further important object is to provideV a safety release operating bar orl the like so constructed and so :associated with the wringer frame and with a toggle orv pressure rreset arm that'pressure on the bar in a direction toward the wringer rolls or pressure on the bar in a'direction away from that end of the wringer adjacent to which thel operator may stand', will serve to break thel toggle for release of the pressure.

Many other objects as well as the advantages and uses of the invention will be understood and appreciated after reading the following description and claims and after viewing the `drawings in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one type of wringer mechanism embodying the' invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the left hand end of the wringer shown in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a sectional view lof-a fragment taken substantially along the line III-III of Fig.v 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to the view of Fig. 3, showing the reset arm and release mechanism in released or inoperative position;

Fig. 5 is a section' of a fragment taken substantially along the line V-V of Fig. 1;

` Fig. 6 is a section of a fragment taken substantially along theY line VI-VI of 1;

Fig. '7r is a section of a fragment taken substantially along the line VII-VII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a section inelevation taken substantially along the line IX-IX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a` section in elevation taken substantially along the line X-l-X of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 isa plan section of a fragment taken along the line XI--XI of Fig. 9; and

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary detail partially in section taken substantially along the line XII-IUI of Fig. 1'1.

The wringer chosen for illustration has a frame which is composed of side frame members, generally designated 2 Yand 3, each of which may be formed in channel shape from sheetV metal, a bottom member 4 which may be separate from' the side frame members and welded thereto, but which in the embodiment illustrated is integral with the side frame members, and a top frame member 5, which likewise may be stamped as a single piece from sheet metal, but 'which is separable from the side frame members as will hereinafter appear. A leaf spring 6 is carried by the top frame member 5 on a tensioning screw 'I operable by a handle 8 to increase or decrease the tension on the spring,yas will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

A lower` roll 9 having journals II (one only shown) is mounted in bearing blocks I2 (one only shown) supported on transverse bars I3 (only one shown) secured to the sides of the side frame members 2 and 3. An upper roll I4 has a journal I5 at each end rotatable in bearing blocks I6 which are vertically slidable in the side frame members 2 and 3. The spring 6,' normally conned between the top frame member 5 and the upper roll bearing blocks I6 presses downwardly upon the bearing blocks I6 and therefore urges and maintains the top roll I4in tight rolling engagement with the lower roll 9. The lower roll 9, of course, may be driven from any suitable source of power, and through its frictional engagement with the top roll rotates the latter.

n As above vindicated, the top frame member 5A is removably associated with the side frame members. At one end (the right hand end viewing Fig. l) the top frame member 5 is provided with one or two closed slots (not shown) adapted to receive a corresponding number of lugs Il struck outwardly from the side frame member or otherwise secured thereto, the arrangement being such that this end of the top telescopes edges of the slots abutting against the bottoms of the lugs thereby providing a disconnectible hinge about which the top may be pi-voted and through which the top may be disconnected. At the opposite end the top frame member telescopes over the top of side frame member 2 and is slotted as at I8 for the reception of a hinge portion I9 of a reset arm 2|. A hinge pivot pin 22, disposed through and secured between lugs 23 formed integral or otherwise with the top frame member 5, secures the channel shaped reset arm 2| to the top frame member.

Struck outwardly from the side frame member 2 are lugs 24 through which a pivot pin 25 is disposed and secured. Mounted upon the pivot pin 25 are a pair of links 2E which with a strap or spacing portion 2'| may be formed as a sheet metal stamping from one piece of metal. The outer ends of the links 26 are pivotally supported on a pivot pin 28 which may be secured through the side walls of the channel-shaped reset arm 2|, and the wall of the side frame member 2 is recessed or notched, as shown at 29, to permit the reception of the pivot pin 28 therein.

As will be noted from Figs. 1 and 3, when the reset arm depends vertically downwardly from the pivot 22, it lies in telescoped or covering relationship to a portion of the side frame member 2 with its longitudinal edges substantially in abutting relation thereagainst. In this position a line joining the centers or axes oi pivots 22 and 28 passes to the right (viewing Figs. 1 and 3) of the center of pivot 25. Consequently, the resultant of the moments of forces due to the reaction pressure exerted by spring G tends to move the pivot 23 and the corresponding ends of the links 2G toward the wringer rolls, but such movement will be resisted and prevented by the abutment i the inside or longitudinal edges of the reset arm 2|, against the side frame member 2. In other words, the pivot 23 in its normal position lies on the Wringer side of a dead center position determined by a line passing through the centers of the pivots 22 and 25. In this normal position the spring 8 exerts its pressure against the top bearing blocks |B and maintains the wringer rolls I4 and 9 in tight frictional engagement. However, should an emergency arise, as when the operators person or clothingbecomes caught between the rolls, it is necessary to break the toggle joint or, in other words, to move the reset arm 2| and pivot 23 outwardly away from the side frame member 2 to a position where the pivot 28 is outward beyond a dead center position with respect to the pivots 25 and 22, and where the reaction forces of the spring 6 will carry the arm and links outwardly and upwardly toward or beyond a position, such as that illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4.

The mechanism for breaking the toggle is illustrated in detail in Figs. 8 to l2, inclusive. A pair of safety bars 3|, one located on each side of the wringer and extending transversely between the side frame members 2 and 3 are arranged to serve as the toggle breaking operating mechanism. Inasmuch as these safety bars and the mechanism by which they are attached to the wringer frame members are the same or similar on one side to what they are on the other side of the wringer, as will be apparent from Fig. 8, only one will be described in detail.

The safety bar 3| is formed in channel or U-shape from sheet metal, and at its ends is beveled as at 32 and slotted as shown at 33.

Castings 34 and 35 having tongues 36 and 31, respectively, adapted to be disposed loosely through the slots or apertures 33 are secured to pivot pins 38 and 39, respectively. The pivot pin 39 extends through spaced arms 4| formed on a bracket 42 secured to the side frame member 3 in any suitable manner, and the casting 35 is free to pivot to a reasonable extent about this pivot. The pivot pin 38, on the other hand, extends through elongated slots 43 formed in spaced arms 44 4of a bracket 45 secured to the frame member 2, so that the casting 34 may pivot or rock with respect to the bracket 45 and may also move transversely of the wringer frame or in directions parallel to the axes of the wringer rolls. Formed integral with the reset arm 2| are ears 46 which are disposed in the paths of movement of portions of the castings 34 and so that when the parts are in their normal position, as shown in Fig. 8, the ears 46 will lie closely adjacent to or in abutting relation against the outer face portions of the castings 34, which castings form heads for actuating the reset arm.

In operation, should an emergency arise in which it is necessary to effect immediate release of the pressure exerted by the spring 6, the operator by exerting a thrust on either safety bar 3| directly toward the wringer rolls or a thruston the bar 3| toward the left hand end of the wringer (viewing Fig. 8) or a thrust having components in both directions, will cause the casting 35 to move about the pivot 39 and as the casting 34 is restricted in its pivotal movement it will slide the pivot pin 38 longitudinally of the slots 43 to the opposite ends thereof and will cause the casting 34 to engage (if it is not already engaged) with the ear 46 thereby to urge the reset arm outwardly to a position where the pivot 23 passes dead center position with respect to pivots 22 and 25. As soon as the reset arm 2| passes a position such as that indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the force of the reaction of the spring 6 will carry it outward and upward and the tension of the spring 6 will be immediately released through the rise of the top frame member E. The parts cannot fly apart due to the link connections, as will be readily appreciated. When it is desired to resetv the pressure the operator after reengaging the lugs through the correspending slots in the top frame member 5 will pull down upon the reset arm 2| which through its toggle connections will recompress the spring and replace the arm in its full line position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

While I have illustrated and described what is at present a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood and appreciated that the invention is susceptible of Various other embodiments and modifications bearing little constructional resemblance to the construction illustrated. Consequently, I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction illustrated and described, but only by the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a clothes wringer for a domestic washing machine, a pair of wringer rolls, a lower frame adapted to be mounted at one end on the machine, an upper frame, releasable latch means connecting the frames together on the mounting end, toggle lever release and reset means on the opposite end of the frames, said toggle means including a channel section lever and a link pivotally connected with said lever and with the lower frame, said ,leverextending along the end of the =wringer and having the sides thereof embracing said end of the lower frame and covering the link of the toggle, one of said lever sides having an out-turned ear thereon below the frame pivot of the link, and trip release means pivotally connected to and extending across the top of the lower frame in position to abut at one end against said ear, said release means being adapted by horizontal plane movement to coact with said toggle means to force the toggle into released position.

2. In a clothes wringer for a domestic washing machine, a pair of wringer rolls, a lower frame adapted to be mounted at one end on the machine, an upper frame, releasab-le latch means connecting the frames together on the mounting end, toggle lever release and reset means on the opposite end of the frames, said toggle means including a channel section lever and a link pivotally connected with said lever and with the 20 lower frame, said lever extending along the end of the wringer and having the sides thereof embracing said end of the lower frame and covering the link of the toggle, one of said lever sides having an out-turned ear thereon below the frame pivot of the link, and trip release means l extending across the top of the lower frame and including a bar pivo'ted at one end to said frame, the opposite end of said bar having a head thereon slidaloly connected with said frame and with an outer face spaced from said slidable connection in opposed relation to the inner face of the ear' in position to press thereagainst and force the toggle means to released position, and upon reverse movement of the toggle means to a pressure sustaining position to reset the trip means outwardly and hold said trip bar in an outstanding operative position.

NICHOLAS L. ETTEN. 

